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06 Jun 2013

Roman Polanski

Sundance Selects has acquired the U.S. distribution rights to Roman Polanski's film of Venus in Fur, the steamy two-hander by Tony Award nominee David Ives, according to the Hollywood Reporter.

The 96-minute French-language adaptation was filmed in Paris last fall, featuring Emmanuelle Seigner and Mathieu Amalric in the roles of Vanda and Thomas, respectively. Ives and Polanski collaborated on the script. It premiered at the Cannes Film Festival this spring.

Ives' sexually charged dark comedy centers on a frustrated playwright-director attempting to cast the leading role in his stage adaptation of Leopold von Sacher-Masoch's "Venus in Furs," when a mysterious and talented young actress walks in the door with designs of her own. The play earned a 2012 Tony Award nomination.

Venus in Fur premiered to acclaim in early 2010 in a production by Off-Broadway's Classic Stage Company. It then transferred to a celebrated Broadway run in 2011-12. Nina Arianda became an overnight star for her turn as Vanda, earning the 2012 Tony Award for Best Actress. Hugh Dancy co-starred with Arianda in the Broadway production.